Battle of Caldiero (1796)

Battle of Caldiero, 1796
Part of French Revolutionary Wars and the Italian Campaign of 1796-1797
Date 12 November 1796 Location Caldiero, in present-day Italy 45°25′N 11°11′E / 45.417°N 11.183°E / 45.417; 11.183 Result Austrian victory
Belligerents
First French Republic	Habsburg monarchy
Commanders and leaders
Napoleon Bonaparte André Masséna Pierre Augereau Dominique Martin Dupuy	Jozsef Alvinczi Prince Hohenzollern Giovanni Provera Anton Schübirz von Chobinin Peter Vitus von Quosdanovich
Strength
13,000 infantry	18,000 infantry
Casualties and losses
1,800 dead and wounded, 2 guns	1,300 dead and wounded

War of the First Coalition:
Italian Campaign

100km
62miles

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  current battle

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In the Battle of Caldiero on 12 November 1796, the Habsburg army led by József Alvinczi fought a First French Republic army commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte. The French assaulted the Austrian positions, which were initially held by the army advance guard under Prince Friedrich Franz Xaver of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. The defenders held firm until reinforcements arrived in the afternoon to push back the French. This marked a rare tactical setback for Bonaparte, whose forces withdrew into Verona that evening after having suffered greater losses than their adversaries. The action occurred during the War of the First Coalition, which was part of the French Revolutionary Wars. Caldiero is a town located about 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Verona.

The battle was part of the third Austrian effort to relieve the Siege of Mantua. Two Austrian forces converged toward Mantua, the main army from the east and an independent corps from the north. Both forces enjoyed early successes, driving back the outnumbered French forces in front of them. When the main army reached a position threatening Verona, Bonaparte ordered the divisions of André Masséna and Pierre Augereau to attack. Sturdy Austrian resistance and bad weather contributed to the French defeat. Bonaparte soon embarked upon a new strategy which concluded with an Austrian defeat at the Battle of Arcole a few days later.